Page 2290 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 17 August 1993
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MR LAMONT: I withdraw unreservedly, Mr Deputy Speaker. The Liberal Party did not make money out of this issue; they made money out of the issue of abortion.
Mr De Domenico: I raise a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker.
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: You withdrew unreservedly, Mr Lamont?
Mr De Domenico: Mr Deputy Speaker, for Mr Lamont's edification, the Liberal Party did not make any money out of the abortion issue either. We gave it to Bethel.
MR LAMONT: I also withdraw any imputation there, Mr Deputy Speaker.
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you for the clarification, Mr De Domenico.
MR LAMONT: The Liberal Party did not make any money for itself - one could understand that, given some of their policies - but it is understood that they did in fact make the money. There was then a hell of an outcry about it, so they decided to donate it to charity.
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Lamont, I would remind you that we are discussing the hospice. Please be relevant to the subject matter.
MR LAMONT: It is relevant because I think that the attitude - - -
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: It is not, actually.
MR LAMONT: I would suggest, with due respect, Mr Deputy Speaker, that if you allow me to develop the argument it will become quite obvious why it is relevant. The actions of the Liberal Party in pursuing any issue that they believe they can achieve one headline out of are indicative of the way they are treating this issue. Mr Berry says that in a process which included consultation and a report that they have quoted from extensively - - -
Mr De Domenico: Come on; no-one believes him, not even you.
MR LAMONT: Mr De Domenico, if for once, on the first day of this new session, you sit and listen you may - although the possibility, I know, is remote - learn something. That would be a great change from what has happened in this Assembly over the last 18 months. Madam Speaker, the Liberal Party should be resoundingly condemned for the way they have attempted to misrepresent this issue. Mr Berry indicates that consultation includes getting advice which may be different from that on which you ultimately determine the position. They say that if you do not take notice of that contrary advice you have not been involved in a proper consultation process.
Mrs Carnell: No, he decided it himself.
MR LAMONT: Mrs Carnell believes that the advice that a Minister or member gets is the advice that he or she should unilaterally act upon. That is an absolute nonsense. It is not the proposition that fundamentally underpins a consultative process. What it means, Madam Speaker, is that, quite clearly, there are contrary views as to where a hospice should be located. Mrs Carnell is absolutely wrong
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